I don't want to hear about him." "He's not my friend, Tempest; he's--he's yours." He wheeled round in his chair and laughed bitterly.
"It's a queer time to joke," said he, with a laugh that cut me through.
"It's no joke, Tempest.

You don't know what he's done for you." "Don't I?
I fancy I do." "About the bills," said I, faltering, "you know." "Ah I don't come here to tell me about that." "It was all of his own accord he paid them." "He what ?" shouted Tempest, springing from his chair and facing round.
"Paid them, you know; at least, I paid them for him." "You?
Paid ?" and he caught me by the collar and shook me like a puppy.
"You said you knew," gasped I.
"Paid my bills! You say that blackguard had the cheek to--" "He got me to do it; it was his money, though." He groaned as if some one had wounded him.

A crimson flush of shame and mortification overspread his face, and for a moment he stared at me speechless.
Then he pulled himself together and strode out of the room.

Utterly bewildered and half terrified, I followed him.

What had I done to offend him?
Had all the trouble of the term turned his head?
To my alarm he made straight for Crofter's study.